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j l'(No' Model.) y l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W'. STKETT. ORDNNCE B REECH MEGHANISM.

'Ninl 601,176'. Patented Mar. 2 2, 1898.

(No Model.) '3 SheetsfSheet 3. y J. W. STOGKETT. ORDNANGE BREECH. MEGHANISM.

No. 601,176. PatentedhMar. 22,1898.

will be iirst fully set forth and the patentable features pointed'out in the claims.

- approaching nearly that of a right angle. The

j 11a-nce Is my improvements have been'applied. Fig. 2

.Y A B of Fig. 1 .Wit-h parts in elevation and in `of the plug. l Fig. 6 is a detail section of the plug and ele-l kdetail section of the plug, gun, and tray-latch.

' The breech-plug 2O is providcdwith a longiv lNtra STATES' I nfrrnfr "erica JOHN XV. STOOKETT, OF VASHINOTON, DISTRICT OF OOLUMIA.4

ouen/ wes BREECH w1,EeHMilst/i.`

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,176, dated March 22, 1898.

` Application filed August 4, 1897. Serial No. 647,083,- (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SrooKETr, of `Washington, in the District of Columbia, have yinvented a new and useful Ordnance Breech- Operating kltfechanisxn; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had lto the letters and figures marked on the accompanying dra\ vings, which form a part of this specification. j

My invention relates to firearms and ord-v The improvements will be understood from the following description; and they consist in the combination and construction of the hereinafter-described devices, the details of which Figure l is a rear elevation of a gun to which is a central longitudinal section through line dotted lines. Fig.` 3 is a central longitudinal sectionthrough line C D of Fig. l with parts in elevation. Fig. 4 is adetail side elevation Fig. 5 is a detail section thereof.

vation of the operating-pinion. Fig. 7 is al detail section of theplug. Fig. S is a detail elevation and partial section of the'operatingpinion, shaft, and worm. Fig. 9 is an enlarged Fig. 10 is a plan of the breech-plate. Fig. l1 is an edge elevation of the same, and Fig. 12 is a section of the same through the line M N of Figs. -1O and 11.

tudinally-l disposed translating-rack l upon i theperiphery of the plug and a transverselyarranged segmental rotating rack 2, virtually joining the outer end of the rack 1 at an angle length of the rack l is substantially that of the plug andqthe segmental rack about thirty degrees of the circumference thereof. These relative dimensions are illustrative merely. As a preferred construction both the racks' are formed integral with the plug, but of course they may be separate and rigidly secured thereto.

The rotating rack upon the line -of its length is parallel withfthe threads 2l on the plug 20 for a purpose hereinafter referred to,y

Therraek-teeth of the rotating segmental rackare cut With curved working faces concentric with the axis of the pinion or gear 50- f I and the axis of the hinge uponv which the't'ray' swings, fora purpose also to be explained.

30 is thebreech-plate, which supports the tray and its operating inechanism, together vwith the plug, during`its'lineai" translation It has out of and into thebreech ofthe gun. bearings 3] which support the tray-bearings and the plug in all its movements.

also afhorizontal bearing/32, which receives It has" the crankshaft and its' actuating 1nechan` ism. The peculiarity of this breech-plate is such that it is supported entirely by the jacket I 40 inga built-up gun, and it has no connection with'the hoops 4l or 4t2, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. The breech-plate is peculiar and novel in connection with builtup guns. v p Y The tray`5l is of the usual construction and is provided with rails or ribs 52, upon which the plug 2O slides `and rests when upon the y.

tray. It carries also a latch orv lock mechanf lism, which will be described farther on. The hinge-pin or shaft 53, upon which the tray 5l swings, is mounted in the bearings 3l of the breech-plate 30, and it carries a worm-wheel .5-1, which meshes with the worm 55 on the op-` eratingshaft', carried in suitable bearings in the jacket of the gun and the bearing 32 in the breech-plate. A crank 57 or other means serves to rotate the shaft. v

The hinge-pin 53 Vand translating` pinion 50. 'lhispinion has worm or helical threads cut thereon, which threadsare interrupted oir mutilated by heing cutaway transversely at regular intervals, the sides of the cut-awayportions forming a series of spur-teeth.v The helical threads mesh with the rotating segmental rack 2, while the spur-teeth engage the longitudinal straight rack 1.

The-plug 20'has grooves 22, adapted to fit upon the rails 52 of the tray, and it may be carries the plug rotating provided with a gas-check and other suitable appurtenances. The threads 2l on the plug are interrupted in the usual way and are adapted to register and lock and unlock with 'threads on the gun-breech.

I provide an automatically-operating latch `ing adapted to engage the plug under condi-- tiens which will be set forth.

64 is a spring normally depressing the front end of the Vlatch-lever.

65 is acatch on the lower front end of the level', and (3G a hook with which the catch engages when the front end ot; the latch is depressed.

67 is a spring-operated bolt located in a recess in the front end of the tray. Registering with thisbolt when the inner end of the latch-lever is up and the plug fully withd rawn is a bolt or tappe't (38, which has a limited longitudinal play in a hole and socket in the inner end of the latch-lever. The tappet 68 has, preferably,an enlarged rounded head, against which the bolt 67 bears.

Vheu thecatcir 65 and, hook GGare in cngagement, the head of tappet G8 still prevents the forward motion ot' bolt 67, as is sho-wn by dotted lines in Fig. 9, as is also the case when the latch is in the position shown in full lines inthe same figure. lVhen, however, the tray 5l is swung away from the gun-breech upon the latch being released from the hook G6 by' the movement of the plug upon the tray, (or upon beingoperated by hand'by the handle 69,) then theinuer end of tappet 68, no longer being forced outward-by its contact with the gun-breech, is forced inwardly by the springbolt 67 and the bolt enters the tappet-socket in the latch, locking the'latter securely in the.

position shown in full lines in Figs. '3 and 9. This last-named locking position of the latch will be maintained at all times' when the trayfis not in contact with the breech,nor can the han.

dle (59 be operated in such position. When', however, the tray is swung back against the breech, the tappet G8 impinges thereon, and its Contact with the wall of said breechshoves the tappet outwardly and ejects the bolt 67, whcreuponthe inward movement of the plug and the action of spring 64: causes the catch to engage the hook (56 and lock the tray to the breech.

rlhe plug 20 h 'is alongitiulinal slot or groove -26 open at thc outer end and terminating in a bevel-face 23 at' its inner endf A similar slot 24 is cut at the inner or opposite end of the plug, having also a bevel-falco 25. The

width of these slots 26 and 24 corresponds with und is slightly larger than the width of the latch-jaws 62 and 63.

Fig. 9 shows the plug at the full outward movement upon the tray locked thereon and the tray released from the' breech. In such position the' tray is ready to swing away from the breech or the plug pushed into the breech and the latch locked to the breech. InA the latter movement of the plug upon the tray into the breech the bevel-face 23 ,of the 'slot 26 is moved inwardly away from its contact with the rea-r latch-j aw 6,2, permitting the latter to rise within the slot 26, and the spring 6,4: depresses the catch G5 into contact with the hook G6, the front jaw G3 dropping at the jaw 63 is such that the plug can never ride over the rear jaw, the engagement of the front jaw G3 with the plug preventing lthe depression ofA the rear jaw to such an extent as to prevent any movement of the plug. The movement of the plug upon the tray in either 'The relation of the rear jaw 62 and the front` IOO direction when the tray is swung away 'from the breech is prevented by the spring-bolt 67, which has already been described, both 'jaws of the' latch being in engagement-With the plug. v

It has been stated that the center line' of the rotating rack 2 on the plug 20 is disposed parallel with the interrupted threads 21 on said plug. As a result of this construction a serious jamming of the-teeth of the rack 2 against those of the pinion, 50 -is avoided. When the breech-plug is rotated to release its'threads with those of the breech, it moves backward, due to the pitch of the threads, and 'similarly it move's forward when being locked in the breech. 'When theline of the rot-ating segmental rack is perpendicular' and IIO not parallel with the threads of the .breech and plug, vthe working conditions of the teeth on the plug and those on the ,pinion vary. At the beginning of the unlocking movement in such a case there is only a working clearance between the teeth on the rack and those 'on the pinion. A s the plug moves backward during its rotation this working clearance is taken up and sooncauses undue friction on the helical faces ofthe teeth and a harder working of the parts, necessitating the application of more power for translating thel plug than is the case when my improved mechanism is used.

f the hinge 53 or pinion 50.

which would be the result if the rack-teeth were eut sstraight.

Itwlill be noticed that the fastenings of the breechpllate 30 (in this instance by bolts 33) to the gun-breech are conned wholly to the jacket 4() and that it is entirelv disconnected from the hoops 4l and 42. This construction is an important one in built-up guns. These hoops move more or less upon each other and upon the jacket when the gun is in service, which firing causes the hoops to creep and momentarily release the internal strains in the metal, due to the method of manufacture. This independent movement of the hoops has actually caused a bending of both the hingepin and the pinion in service on guns in which these parts were in one way or another connected lwith the hoops. In my construction these hoops come and go without affecting in any degree the workingof the breech mechanism, the mechanism being secured to the jacket 4:0 only.

As a result of-niy peculiar construction of rack l and pinion 50 two or more eog-faces of said pinion are brought to bear at all times upon the vertically-cut teeth of the rack 1 when the plug is being withdrawn or replaced and there is no tendency of its being pushed to one side and jammed. In other words, there is an even pull upon each side of the linear line of motion of theplug. By distributing the pull on two or more pinion-teeth also the tendency to wear or bur the pinionteeth is greatly diminished. In most of the ordnance breech mechanisms in use there is a danger of the plug being pushed to one side during its translation, due to the power being applied to one side of the center of motion of the plug. XVhere the withdrawing and rotating racks are formed separately from the plug and secured thereto, there is great danger of their being broken or distorted, rendering the gun useless in action. I have provided elleetually against this danger by forming the plug and the racks of one piece of steel.

I claim- 1. In a gun, the combination of a threaded breech-block having a longitudinal rack thereon parallel with its axis an d a segmental rack parallel with the screw-threads, with a wormwheel having its threads interrupted transversely on a line parallel with the axis of the `wheel, forming rack-teeth.

2. The combination of a plug, a tray and a locking-catch on the tray having jaws in locking engagement with cams on substantially opposite ends of theplug when the latter is fully Withdrawn, substantially'as described.

3. A breech-plug for guns having lockingthreads upon its periphery and a rotating rack parallel with said locking-threads.

'4. A breech-plug for guns having lockinglthreads upon its periphery, and a segmental tooth-rack upon its rear, the pitch-line of the segmental rack being parallel with-the lock- 5. The combination of a gun, a breech-plug having a segmental tooth-rack thereon, a pinion engaging the rack mounted upon the gun and means for operating the pinion, the working faces of the teeth of said rack and pinion being concentric with the axis of the hinge'- pin.

6. The combination of a gun, a breech-plug, a breech-tray, a latch pivoted upon the tray and having a jaw at each end projecting upwardly through the tray into locking engagement with cam-surfaces substantially at the front and rear end of the plug, when the latter.is fully withdrawn, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a built-up gun, a breech-plug therein, the ends of the sleeves of said gun, constituting the jacket and hoops, being substantially flush with each other, of a recess in said jacket and hoops, and a earrier-plate removably attached to said jacket and free from said hoops, the operating mechanism for said plug being supported on said plate and vpartially lying in said recess.

S. Theeombination of a gun, a breech-tray hinged thereto having a latch pivoted to the tray, said latch having a plurality of cammed projections and a lock for holding both cams in engagement with the breech-plug.

9. A threaded breech-plug for guns having a rotating rack formed integrally therewith and parallel with the locking-threads of the plug.

l0. A threaded breeclrplug forguns having a translating-rack and a rotating rack formed integrally therewith, the latter rack being- JNO. W. STOCKET'I. Y

Witnesses:

YEDWARD K. DE PUY,

R. G. SU'r'roN.

IOO

IIO 

